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Laredo was one of the nation s worst COVID-19 hot spots for weeks. Its leaders see no easy way out.
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Thursday, February 04 2021
Feb 4, 2021
February 04, 2021 11:44 AM
February 04, 2021
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News - Coronavirus Pandemic
Source: https://www.texastribune.org/
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Health care worker Mary Carreon administers a COVID-19 vaccine to an elderly patient in Laredo on Feb. 1. The early vaccine rollout has been plagued by problems in the border city. Credit: Jessica Rodriguez for The Texas Tribune
After weeks of holding the unwanted designation as one of the country’s worst coronavirus hot spots, according to New York Times data, Laredo’s leaders have surveyed the city’s surging COVID-19 caseloads and overwhelmed hospitals and found themselves with no good options.
At one point in January, almost half of the city’s hospital patients were admitted because of COVID-19 the highest percentage in the state. That's caused intense debate about what the city can, and should, do next.
After weeks as one of the nation s worst COVID-19 hot spots, Laredo leaders see no easy way out
Texas Tribune
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Credit: Jessica Nicole for The Texas Tri
After weeks of holding the unwanted designation as one of the country’s worst coronavirus hot spots, Laredo’s leaders have surveyed the city’s surging COVID-19 caseloads and overwhelmed hospitals and found themselves with no good options.
The border city and international trade hub hasn’t received enough vaccine doses to make a big enough difference quickly enough. The state’s initial plan, which allocated vaccines in part based on the number of health care workers, hurt cities like Laredo, which has just two hospitals.
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Laredo was one of the nation s worst COVID-19 hot spots for weeks. Its leaders see no easy way out.
Marissa Martinez, The Texas Tribune
Feb. 4, 2021
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LISD health care professionals work to administer the COVID-19 vaccine onMonday, Feb. 1 at Martin High School during the school district s vaccination effort in collaboration with the City of Laredo.Danny Zaragoza / Laredo Morning TimesShow MoreShow Less
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LISD Health Assistant Marisol Urbina fills a syringe with the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, Feb. 1.Danny Zaragoza / Laredo Morning TimesShow MoreShow Less
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After weeks of holding the unwanted designation as one of the country’s worst coronavirus hot spots, according to New York Times data, Laredo’s leaders have surveyed the city’s surging COVID-19 caseloads and overwhelmed hospitals and found themselves with no good options.
Nurses prepare doses of Moderna s COVID-19 vaccine for Laredo s vaccine drive. Vaccines were made available to health care workers, first responders, the elderly and adults with underlying conditions.
When Jessica Yelderman saw a flyer online for Laredo’s COVID-19 drive-thru vaccinations, she decided to get there early 13 hours early.
“I think we got here at about 8 o’clock last night,” she said Monday morning from her car near the front of a long line of people waiting for a dose of Moderna’s vaccine.
The City of Laredo, which has confronted overwhelmed hospitals for several weeks, held a three-day vaccine drive to distribute more than three thousand vaccines, beginning on Saturday for health care workers. On Sunday, the city opened it up for people 65 years and older and adults with chronic illnesses. Texas allows those with conditions 16 years and older to get vaccinated, but the Moderna vaccine is only authorized for people 18 and over.